danielray Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Inventors: Richards; Paul E. (Los Angeles, CA) Assignee: Promar International, Inc. (Chatsworth, CA) Appl. No.: 04/812,153 Filed: April 1, 1969 United States Patent 3,629,522 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the difficulties and problems encountered with conventional nonamplified bands and orchestras are obviated by the headpiece loudspeaker of the present invention which provides a headpiece rim adapted to fit on the head of a musician and which includes a crown that may take the form of a flat cap or a cylindrical decorative member. In one form of the invention, a loudspeaker is secured to a supporting mount so that the vibrating cone of the loudspeaker will distribute acoustical energy from opposite sides of the speaker so as to provide a pair of rounded side lobes forming a propagation pattern of approximately 360.degree.. The movement of the vibrating cone is normal to the central vertical axis of the device and movement of the cone is in the same direction as energy wave propagation or distribution. The supporting mount includes fastening means for detachably connecting the loudspeaker to a conventional flat hat or cap while stabilizing means are provided for supporting the additional weight and to assist the wearer in balancing the headpiece loudspeaker. In another form of the invention, the loudspeaker is secured to the structure of the hat so that acoustical energy is directed outwardly from the device. An acoustical energy diverting baffle or panel is secured to the headpiece having a shaped surface arranged in fixed opposing and spaced apart relationship with respect to the vibrating cone. Preferably, the shaped surface of the baffle is coned in which the apex is facing the loudspeaker. By arranging the loudspeaker so as to radiate acoustical energy outwardly from the sides of the musician or by employing the diverting means or baffle plate, improved acoustical wave propagation characteristics are attained so that substantially a 360.degree. energy spread or excursion of sound is experienced. A feature of the invention also resides in the fact that the instruments carried by the musicians in the band are fully amplified by employing an amplifier pack or apparatus which contains a conventional amplifier circuit, battery voltage source and suitable controls. The amplifier apparatus may be employed in combination with the headpiece loudspeaker so that a fully amplified sound system is provided for amplifying electrical signals produced by a suitable transducer forming a part of the musical instrument. Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel headpiece loudspeaker for use on occasions where it is necessary or desirable for musicians to communicate with audiences under conditions which make hearing extremely difficult, and where it is necessary for the musician to have his hands free. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved, simple, compact and protected loudspeaker headpiece having superior directional characteristics than conventional loudspeakers. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amplification system and apparatus adapted to be carried by a musician wherein the musical sounds generated by the musician's instrument can be readily amplified and distributed to remote audiences. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amplifier and loudspeaker system to be carried on the body of a musician and which is capable of separating the amplification unit from the loudspeaker unit such that the loudspeaker projects approximately 360.degree. of sound in a controlled directional manner. Illustrations of the invention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corps fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 dear god!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielray Posted April 12, 2007 Author Share Posted April 12, 2007 Inventors: Richards; Paul E. (Shawnee Mission, KS) Appl. No.: 05/945,640 Filed: September 25, 1978 United States Patent 4,237,341 A portable self-contained amplified and loud speaker system and apparatus is disclosed herein having improved acoustical energy propagation in connection with musical sound distribution by a musician in a marching band or group. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electro-acoustical transducers and, more particularly, to a novel unitary amplifier and loudspeaker apparatus adapted to be carried on the person of a moving musician and capable of generating improved acoustical wave energy distribution. 2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, it has been the conventional practice to arrange musicians of a marching band or group in a pattern of rows and columns so as to move as a unit in street parades, on football playing fields and the like. Although a variety of musical instruments have been adapted to be connected to electrical amplifiers for electrically amplifying signals generated by the instrument, such amplifiers are very heavy, bulky, and cumbersome and depend on an alternating current source so that it is impractical to provide amplifier and loudspeaker systems compatible with the mobility required of individuals in a marching band or choral group. Without such amplifying equipment, spectators on opposite sides of the street over which a marching band travels often experience musical voids or blanks where some of the instruments cannot be heard. Furthermore, it is difficult for an individual musician in a marching band to hear the various parts being played by other musicians in the band as the band moves down the street or a playing field. For example, in a non-amplified marching band, the musicians in the second row very seldom hear the musical parts being played by musicians in the first or front row, while the musicians in the third row seldom hear the parts being played by musicians in the first and second rows and so forth. A partial cause of musical selection blanking resides in a natural condition of imbalance between various classes of instruments in the group. Some instruments, such as those classed as brass, are considered strong in terms of loudness and extremely directional in sound propagation. Other instruments, such as woodwinds, are relatively weak and lack direction in sound radiating ability. This imbalance results in a band in which all voices thereof are comparatively unequal in both loudness and directional propagation. Illustrations of the invention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malibu Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Notice that the first one was filed on April Fools Day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburstall Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Notice that the first one was filed on April Fools Day! But the patent was issued on Dec. 2nd of that year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarContra4-85 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 GREAT idea <_< -everyone run around with a Long Ranger strapped to your head! There's no danger of phasing with 135 speakers on the field. If hearing loss around large ensembles weren't already a concern, this should take care of it nicely. ^_^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jthomas666 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Well, I guess we know what one of the rules proposals for next year will be . . . ;) Still, it'd be fun to go back and time and hand these out to, say, Spirit in '80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburstall Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Well, I guess we know what one of the rules proposals for next year will be . . . ;)Still, it'd be fun to go back and time and hand these out to, say, Spirit in '80. "and the walls came-a tumbling down" There wouldn't be any stadium left if they were amped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamMan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Why would you amp every person on the field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VKCanosUSMCContra Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Why would you amp every person on the field? Because George Hopkins wants it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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